Coupler



Feb 18, 1930- s. B. HAsEL'nNE Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STACY B. HASELTINE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 W. H. MmER, INC., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE COUPLER Application filed May 12, 192B.

This invention relates to improvements in' couplers.

One object of the invention is to provide a coupler for railway draft riggings including the usual spaced draft sills, yoke member yand front follower co-operating with shock absorbing means within the yoke, wherein the butt end section of the coupler shank has a swiveled or pivotal connection vwith the shank proper to provide for lateral swinging movement of the coupler without rocking movement of the cou ler butt on the front follower and without angular movement of the coupler key in draft, thereby preventing uneven wear of the parts and assuring proper alignment of the coupler at all times with the shock absorbin means and other parts of the railway dra t rigging, and wherein the swiveled connection between the coupler shank and butt section of the coupler is of simple, efficient and rugged design.v

A more specific object ofthe invention is to provide a coupler of the character indicated, including a detachable swiveled butt end section comprising a block having flat bearing on the follower of the railway draft rigging, wherein the coupler shank proper is provided with a forked end section, between which a forwardly extending arm on the block is swiveled, the front end portion of the arm and the coupler shank and the rear ends of the fork member and the block having cooperating curved bearing surfaces, the block being connected to the coupler shank by means of a vertically disposed pivot pin extending through the arm of the block and the fork members, the pin being held against removal when the parts are assembled by abutment shoulders in the pin receiving openings of the fork members, the pin receiving openings have oii'set sections providing the shoulders, whereby when the parts are being assembled and the coupler shank is dis osed in angular relation to the block the pm receivin openings of the fork memberand arm of the lock are aligned to receive the pin and the pin is brought into engagement with the abutment shoulders by outward movement of the block with respect to the shank, the parts when swung into aligned relation bringing Serial No. 277,228.

the cooperating bearing surfaces of the shank and block in engagement with each other to hold the pin in cooperating relation with the shoulders, due to relative longitudinal movement of the shank and block being prevented by the inter-engaged curved bearing surfaces of these parts, the coupler shank being anchored to the. yoke by the usual key which extends through a slot provided in the arm of the block and has notched engagement with the pin.

Other and further objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional view of the forward end portion of the draft rigging of a railway car, illustrating my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, sectional view of the inner end portion of the coupler shank, coupler butt block and the adjacent portion of the yoke member of the railway draft rigging, corresponding substantially to the line 2-2 of Figure 1. And Figure 3 is a top plan view of the inner end portion of the shank and the cooperating swiveled butt block of my improved coupler.

In said drawings, 10-10 indicate the usual center or draft sills of a railway car underframe provided with stop castings 11-11, which act as the front limiting stops of the railway draft rigging. The sto castings are provided with the usual flat en faces which form the stop shoulders 12 proper. The castings are also provided with longitudinally disposed slots 13 which are aligned with similar slots provided in the draft sills and accommodate the usual coupler key. The striking casting of the railway draft rigging is indicated by 14 and the carry iron by 15. The carry iron is provided with the Ausual wear plate member 16 which is interposed between the same and the bottom side of the coupler shank. The yoke of the railway draft riggin is of the usual hooded type and is indicate by 17. The yoke cncloses the shock absorbing mechanism 18, which may be of any well known design, and a front main follower 19 cooperates with the shock absorbing means.

My improvements comprise, broadly, a coupler A, a swiveled butt block B, a connecting in C, and a coupler key D.

Tlie-inner end portion of the coupler A is illustrated in the drawings, the same comprising the usual shank 20 which, as shown, is tapered inwardly, as is customary. As shown most clearly in Figure 2, the rear end portion of the shank 20 of the coupler is vertically enlarged and centrally slotted, horizontally, to provide top and bottom arms 21-21 in the form of a fork.

As most clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the side portions of the top and bottom arms are spaced an appreciable distance from the side walls of the yoke 17 to permit of the proper swinging movement of the coupler. The inner ends' of the arms 21 are rounded ofi' so as to provide curved bearinnr surfaces 22-22 whichcooperate with the tbutt block B in a manner hereinafter pointed out. The arms 21 are provided with vertically aligned openings 23a-23, adapted to receive the connecting pin C, The opening 23 of the upper arm 21 is open at the top, as shown, and is pro'- vided with a rearwardly offset section 24, thercbyfpresenting a top abutment shoulder 25, which, as hereinafter more clearly7 pointed out, limits upward movement of the key and prevents removal of the same when the parts are assembled. The opening 23 of the bottom arm 2l is provided with a bottom wall and is longitudinally elongated so as to have a section 26 which registers with the offset portion 24 of the opening 23 of the top arm-21. The bottom wall of the opening 23 of the lower arm 21 is preferably perforated, as indicated at 27, to permit of the insertion of a tool so that the pin may be driven out if necessary. The front wall of the section of the shank between the arms 21 is provided with a concave bearing surface 28, as most clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 3, which cooperates with a bearing face .on'the butt block B, asphereinafter more clearly pointed out.

The butt block B comprises a body pori tion 29, having a horizontally disposed, for

`wardly projecting centralarm 30, which is accommodated between the top and bot-tom arms 21-21 of the fork-like end section of the shank 20. Above and below the arm 30. the front face of the bodyportion 29 ofthe block B is provided with curved concave bearing surfaces .3i-31, which correspond in curvature with the end bearing faces -22-22 of the arms 21 and are adapted to cooperate therewith. The front end -face of the arm 30 is rounded otl', as indicated at 32, to provide an end bea-ring face which is adapted to cooperate with thev curved bearing face 28 between the arms 21 oflthe shank'member of the coupler A. The arm30'is-pr0vided with a vertically disposed qpin receiving opening 33 which is of such a size as to t the pin C and may be brought `into alignment with the opening proper 23 of the top arm 21 of the coupler shank or in alignment with the olfset portion 24 of said opening. The arm 30 is also provided with a horizontally disposed key receiving slot 34, adapted to accommodate the coupler key D. As most clearly shown in Figure 2, the slot 34 is open at the forward end of the arm 30 and the section of the shank of the coupler between the arms 21 is transversely grooved, as indicated at 35, to permit of slight relative movement of the coupler key D and the shank proper of the coupler A.

As most clearly shown in Figure 3, the parts are so proportioned that when the coupler shank is swung at right angles to the arm 30 of the block B, the coupler shank may be moved to the right, as view in Figure 3, so as to bringthe opening 33 of the arm 30 into alignment with the opening 23 of the upper arm 21 of the coupler shank. In this position of the parts, the pin C may be dropped into the opening 33 through the opening 23 of the top arm 21.

In the assembled position of the parts, the f cooperating bearing surfaces 22 and 31 and the cooperating bearing surfaces 28 and 32 are all concentric with the pin C. The slight clearance between these bearing surfaces, as shown in the drawings, is provided to facilitate the assembling of the parts,the surfaces being brought into engagement as soon as pressure is applied to the parts.

l/Vhen the pin C has been seated in the opening 23 of the bottom arm, the coupler shank is moved lengthwise to the left, as shown in Figure 3, thereby bringing the pin into the inner end portion of the lower pocket or opening 23 and into the offset section 24of the opening of the top arm 21 and the section 26 of the opening in the bottom arm 21. It will be evident that in this position of the parts, the pin C is locked against removal in a vertical direction. Vhen the parts have assumed this position. the coupler shank is swung in a right-hand direction, as viewed in Figure 3, until the cooperating bearing surfaces 22 and 31 and the cooperating bearing surfaces 32 and 28 are brought into engagement with each other, thereby interlocking the coupler shank and the block B against longitudinal movement, but permittinglateral swinging movement of these parts with respect to each other. In this position of the parts, the pin C is disposed within. the pockets 24 and 26, as shown in Figure 2, thereby effectively locking the pin against removal.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, the forward portion of the pin Cvis centrally notched, as indicated at 36, to receive the corresponding edge of the coupler key D. g

As shown in Figure 1, the coupler key extends through the aligned slots 13 of the Stop castings l1, and also through longitudi-l nal slots provided in the side walls of the yoke and the slot 34 in the arm 30 of the block B, the rear edge ortion of the key engaging within the notch) 36 of the pin C.

As most clearl illustrated in Figure 1, in the normal position of the parts, the coupler key D bears on the inner end Wall of the slot of the block B and the front edge of the key bears on the front end Walls of the slots of the side walls of the yoke member.

In the operation of my improved coupler, assuming a buing force being applied to the same, the coupler is forced inwardly, thereby forcing the bearing surfaces 22 of the top and bottom arms 21 against the cooperating bearing surfaces 31 of the block B. The parts may be also so proportioned that the bearing surface 28 of the coupler shank will engage the bearing surface 32 at the forward end ofthe arm 30 of the block B. As will be evident, the coupler shank is thus mounted for lateral swinging movement on the block B, the rocklng motion of the same taking place on the bearing surfaces 22 and 31, thus preventing rocking movement of the block B itself. The block B thus has flat bearing at all times on the front main follower 19, thereby preventingdamage to e follower which frequently results when a solid shank coupler is provided, wherein the butt directly rocks on the follower member of the railway draft rigging. Lateral swinging movement of the coupler is limited by engagement of the shank with the side walls of the yoke member 17. Inasmuch as the coupler key D bears directly on the inner end wall of the key receiving slot of the member B,.latera1 rocking movement of the key with the coupler is also prevented.

Assuming a pulling or draft action as being applied to the coupler, the pin C will be pulled orwardly with the arms 21 of the coupler shank, thereb pulling the coupler key D, which bears irectl on the pin C and the block B to 'which tlie pin is connected, forwardly therewith. As the key is in engagement with the front end walls of the key slots of the yoke member, the yoke will be pulled forwardly therewith, thereby compressing the shock absorbing means within the yoke.

When it is desired to re lace the block B, in case the same becomes adly worm, it is merely necessary to detach the coupler from the yoke by removing the coupler key D and then swing the coupler shank to the position with respect to the block B, as shown in Figure 3, and move the shank to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, until the pini* is brought into alignment with the opening 23 of the top arm 21 of the shank. When the parts have been brought in this position, the pin C may h be driven out by means of a tool inserted through the opening 27 in the bottom arm 21 of the coupler shank and the coupler shank disengaged from the block B.

From the preceding description, taken in connection with the drawings, it will be evident that I have provided an exceedingly simple, efficient and durable swiveled connection for a coupler butt block, wherein the connecting means, which comprises a vertically disposed pin, is effectively locked in position when the parts are assembled for service. It is further pointed out that by providing direct bearing contact between arms provided on the inner end of the shank and solid abutmentl faces on the block B, exceptional wearing qualities are obtained. o

Another important advantage of my 1mproved construction is that the cou ler key extends only through the arm of the lock B, thereby subjecting the coupler key directly to the actuating force in draft only, there being no contact between the coupler key and the shank proper of the coupler during a bufling action, the forces at that time being assumed entirely by the cooperating bearing faces of the arms of the coupler shank and the bearing block B, which has flat bearing engagement with the front follower of the railway draft ri ging.

While I have ierein shown and described what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention, the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a coupler including a shank and a detachable butt member. said shank and butt member being provided with pivot pin reeeiving means and having cooperating bearing surfaces inter-engaging when said shank and butt member are aligned, said shank being movable to a position at an angle to said block to permit connection of the shank to the butt member by means of a pin; and a pivot pin connecting said shank and butt, said shank and butt being displaceable after connection by the pin to lock said pin against removal, said cooperating bearing surfaces, when said shank and block are aligned, preventing relative displacement of said shank and block to maintain the pin in locking arrangement.

2. In a coupler including a shank and a detachable butt member, said shank and butt member being provided with overlapping arms, said arms having aligned pin receiving openings, the pin receiving opening of one of said arms being provided with an o'set section, presenting a shoulder, to lock the pin aga-inst removal when said shank and butt member are in longitudinal alignment; a pin connecting said arms, said shank and block aving bearing surfaces cooperating respectively with said arms to allow lateral swinging movement of the shank with respect to the block, but preventing relative longitudinal movement of said shank and block when the same are longitudinally aligned to hold said pin in locked relation, said shank and block being swingable to angular relation with respect to each other, to permit disengagement of said curved bearing surfaces and allow relative displacement of the shank and block to remove said pin from the offset portion of the opening in one of said arms to permit removal or insertion of said pin to allow either separation or assembling of said shank and block.

3. In a coupler including a shank and a detachable swiveled butt member, said shank being provided with spaced arms, said block being provided with an arm engaged between said spaced arms, said spaced arms and the arm of said block having aligned pin receiving openings, the opening of one of the arms of the coupler shank being provided with an offset portion, presenting a shoulder. to lock the pin against removal when the shank and butt member are in substantial longitudinal alignment` said shank and block having bearing surfaces cooperating respectively with the inner ends of said spaced arms and the front end of the arm of the block to allow for lateral swinging movement of the shank with respect to tudinal movement of said shank and block the block, but preventing relative longiwhen in substantial longitudinal alignment to hold the pin in locked relation. said shank and block being swingable to angular relation to permit disengagement of said curved bearing surfaces and allow relative displacement of the shank and block to bring the opening having the offset portion into alignment with the opening of the arm of the block to permit removal or insertion of said pin, to allow either separation or assembling of said shank and block.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of May, 1928.

STACY B. HASELTINE. 

